PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed his sadness over the passing of his loyal assistant and close friend Ismail Manaf on Wednesday (June 5).
"I am sad today for losing a close friend and assistant who has been with me since the 70s when I was the deputy prime minister.
"Today, Ismail did not wait for me and I could feel his loss and absence," said Dr Mahathir in a post on Facebook.
He described Ismail as an extraordinary person who had never been absent from his duties nor been careless.
"He was not just carrying out his duties for a salary, but believed that what he did was right.
"I met him yesterday (June 4) and he said he was not well when I greeted him, but did not expect that it would be our last meeting. Every living thing must die," added Dr Mahathir.
